Brasil Global Tour

The Selecao return to action this month with a Brasil Global Tour double-header against Saudi Arabia and old rivals Argentina

This month Brazil return to action as the Brasil Global Tour heads to the Middle East.

The Selecao meet Saudi Arabia and old rivals Argentina.

in their second post-World Cup international week, coach Tite and his staff have once again handed call-ups to a number of fresh faces as the Selecao look to rebuild ahead of next year's Copa America.

WHO ARE BRAZIL PLAYING THIS MONTH?

The Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour returns with a double-header in Saudi Arabia.

Brazil will meet Saudi Arabia at King Saud University in Riyadh on October 12 before meeting Argentina at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on October 16

Brazil have faced Saudi Arabia on four occasions - winning each time. The two sides last came together in 2002 when a lone goal from Djalminha earned victory in Riyadh.

The five-time world champions’ previous meeting with Argentina arrived on the Brasil Global Tour of Melbourne in 2017, when an experimental side went down 1-0 to their old rivals.

WHAT NEXT FOR BRAZIL COACH TITE?

That the Brazilian football confederation (CBF) reacted to their World Cup quarter-final exit to Belgium by immediately offering Tite a new contract speaks volumes of the excellent work he has done since his June 2016 appointment.

The Selecao was at a particularly low ebb upon his arrival following the infamous 7-1 defeat to Germany at World Cup 2014 and two disappointing Copas America.

The former Corinthians man completely transformed the team almost overnight, ensuring the five-time world champions returned to international football’s top table.

Tite and his staff have split the next four years into three phases and this month’s Brasil Global Tour is part of the first as the staff evaluate a number of new players ahead of next year’s Copa America in Brazil.

Under his command, Brazil have won 22, drawn 4 and lost only twice, with their only defeats being the forementioned loss to Belgium and Argentina.

WHO ARE BRAZIL'S NEW PLAYERS?

This month’s squad includes three players earning their first ever international call-up in Barcelona’s Malcom, Bordeaux defender Pablo and young Gremio goalkeeper Phelipe.

There were no less than eight debuts handed out in September as Neto, Felipe, Eder Militao, Andreas Pereira, Arthur, Lucas Paqueta, Richarlison and Everton all represented their country for the first time at senior level.

Only three of those have retained their place in this month’s group – though Everton withdrew through injury and Lucas Paqueta was ineligible due to his club commitments.

Wide forward Malcom faces stiff competition to earn a regular place right now in a position in which Brazil are strongest, but the Barcelona man is highly thought of by Tite and is tipped to have a long-term future with the Selecao.

Pablo was a surprise inclusion and has a chance to stake his claim for a regular place as Brazil’s two World Cup centre-backs, Miranda and Thiago Silva, are now both 34-years-old.

19-yeaer-old goalkeeper Phelipe, meanwhile, has arrived to replace Flamengo’s Hugo in what is set to be trend of the next few months as Tite gives young custodians some first-hand experience of the senior squad. Lucas Moura and Hannover defensive midfielder Walace have also earned their first call-ups under Tite.

WHO DROPPED OUT AND WHO REPLACED THEM?

Coach Tite has become well-accustomed to late withdrawals from his Brazil squads. And this month has been no different.

Real Madrid left-back Marcelo was a high-profile omission from September’s Brasil Global Tour, during which Alex Sandro made a strong claim to make the spot his own.

Marcelo was recalled for this month’s games but was forced to withdraw through injury and was replaced by Filipe Luis.

Gremio forward Everton was delighted to be recalled following his first call-up last month but he too fell victim to injury, which handed Tottenham’s Lucas Moura a long-awaited recall.

WHAT IS BRAZIL'S FIRST TEAM?

Ahead of this month’s matches there were as few five players who appeared absolute starters as Tite looks to evolve his side ahead of the Copa America.

Dani Alves appears to have played his final game for this country, as have a a number of aging members of the World Cup squad including Fernandinho, Fagner, Pedro Geromel and Paulinho.

On Tuesday Tite presented his XI to face Saudi Arabia (below) but there are likely to be some changes for the test with Argentina a few days later.

After having spent much of his first two years in charge making very few changes to both the starting XI and the squad overall, the coaching staff have made good on their promise that the September, October and November friendlies would be used to trial new players as they begin to build towards Qatar 2022.